SMN report:
Like Star Wars, the Star Trek universe just keeps rolling on, with new movies, collectibles, and now, more scale models from Revell. Due to hit the stores shortly are these two fine spacecraft models, both to 1:600 scale, making them a decent size when constructed, and - interestingly - to a scale that means they are common with a great many ocean-going ship models, though sad to say, not Revell’s own USS Enterprise aircraft carriers, which are to 1:720 and 1:1200 scales.
Biplane vs Warp Factor?
Even so, this modelmaker itches to make a ‘what-if’ diorama featuring a Revell Klingon starship dicing with, let’s say a squadron of Swordfish torpedo bombers from the flightdeck of the same-scale Airfix HMS Ark Royal. Now that’s a sci-fi project that’s just waiting for one of the dark winter nights to come!
Federation Starship
The USS Enterprise kit looks reasonably simple, with 71 parts, and when assembled, it will measure some 481 mm (18.9 in) long. As fans will tell from the test-shot images here, the model features the NCC-1701 from the original Star Trek series.
Five year mission
As envisaged, NCC-1701 is a Constitution class starship, built primarily for scientific research and exploration in the far reaches of the universe. NCC-1701 is best known for its five-year exploration mission: "To boldly go," beginning in the year 2265 under the command of Captain Kirk from Earth, and First Officer Spock from the planet Vulcan.
Klingon Battle Cruiser
Revell’s other 1:600 release is a D7-Class Klingon Battle Cruiser, from the same Star Trek series. This kit has just 65 parts, and is somewhat smaller than the Enterprise, measuring 380 mm (14.9 in) long.
Despite the smaller size, Klingon D7s come armed with photon torpedoes and heavy disrupters, and of course are crewed by the aggressive Klingons, seemingly always ready for a space battle. According to Revell, the D7 is a Year 2247-vintage machine and is slightly faster than the Enterprise, with a maximum warp factor of 8.5 against the Federation vessel’s Warp 8.
Both kits ought to be a treat for all sci-fi fans.
So the question has to be aked.... WHY? From these test shots they appear to be re-issues of the original AMT models.
ReplyDeleteLook at the Enterprise with those grid lines on the saucer, i thought they'd finally gone for good, and the D7 seems to be as in-accurate
With the 'more accurate'kits being produced elsewhere you wonder whether these will sell.
Perhaps a little more notice should be taken of the younger kit producers Revell?
Have been think about these releases, and i'd like to post an open letter to Revell.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering what made you think of releasing these two models in a market that has better, more accurate, ones available.
If you wanted to re-enter the Sci-Fi market why not be bold and do one (or more) of the following:
Rescue the Battlestar Galactica molds from the vault, correct the lack of detail and improve the accuracy, then it would make the perfect partner for the recent model of the new version of the ship. I'm sure it would sell well.
While in the vaults, get the Seaquest DSV molds, and create a new model of the submarine that's at least twice the size (if not three times) than that of the original, which was too small to be of any real use. Again, i thing a decent sized version would sell well.
Or if you you want to go where "no-one's gone before":
Do a reasonable sized model of the transporter shuttle from the original series of "V". I'm amased this hasn't been done before...or
Something that would be perfect for diarama fans everwhere would be a 12/18 inch version of the Daleks Sspace ship from the second film (starring peter cushing). Include some in scale Daleks, make sure it has the landing legs and ranp, with a nicely detailed inside and you can just imagine what a fantastic diarama could be created. I can see it now....
I could go on, there's so many opertunity's to make a worthwhile contribution to the Sci-Fi market.
So come on Revell, stop pussy footing around with models nobody wants, the markets full of Enterprises and D7's. Give the modelers something worth having.
Have to say a Seaquest sub would be great, as would anything Galactica.
ReplyDeleteAs for Daleks & Co, absolutely, maybe a with a press-button sound chip with suitable 'exterminate' voice-over.
I assume that Airfix currently has the rights to 'Doctor Who' kits, though sadly Airfix announced then cancelled some kits.
ReplyDeleteJudging by the fact the DW sets were sold off at 1/3rd the original price, I assume they were not good sellers.
That was for the modern TV series, i believe the rights to the movies and the movie daleks are owned by soeone else
ReplyDeletePlus the reason why Airfix stopped the kits was because they only signed a contract for the Dr Who at that time, they had no rights to show Matt Smith as the docor, hence the end of the line.
ReplyDeleteRather silly really,who at Airfix was responcible for that bo-bo
OxfordDickie knows not of what he speaks.
ReplyDeleteThese are entirely new creations, not the AMT molds at all. The windows may not be the perfect size, but I'd hardly say they were "inaccurate".
The grid lines were light pencil lines on the 11 foot model and would have been engraved if there had been enough money and time to do so. The D7 has details on it as expressed in the Deep Space 9 episode "Trials and Tribble-ations". These are hardly unsanctioned details. Paramount tells them what to put on in the contract.
Please research your claims prior to shooting a hole in your personal credibility.
I know what i'm talking about, it's in-accurate and not needed in the market place when better more accurate models are available.
ReplyDeleteTheir time would have been put to etter use dong something more worthwhile
As to you, who are you to question my beliefs in what is right or wrong?
Love the Lost years era D-7--post TOS--pre-K'tinga
ReplyDeleteI would say that this is how enterprise looked right before the ST:TMP refit, with the FJ look being what the Constitution herself got--to Achernar class.
Airfix cancelled the Doctor Who line because they weren't selling well. This happened long before Smith became the Doctor. These new Star Trek kits look fine to me, inaccuracies or not. If you want a truly accurate TOS Enterprise, get the 1/350th kit coming from Polar
ReplyDeleteLights.
Larry
The Insignia stand is BACKWORDS!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to getting these. Nice to see that level of detail on the Klingon ship - it means it doesn't duplicate the Polar Lights reissue too closely. Curious that it's described as a ship from the series when these details are from the Motion Picture version. I wonder if the decals will reflect that. Also nice to see an Enterprise kit at this scale that can be fitted with lights. Shame they've been a bit overzealous with the grid lines - they appear all over the place on blueprints and diagrams but have never been visible onscreen. Maybe this is a ploy to get us to buy some Revell filler.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to getting these. Nice to see that level of detail on the Klingon ship - it means it doesn't duplicate the Polar Lights reissue too closely. Curious that it's described as a ship from the series when these details are from the Motion Picture version. I wonder if the decals will reflect that. Also nice to see an Enterprise kit at this scale that can be fitted with lights. Shame they've been a bit overzealous with the grid lines - they appear all over the place on blueprints and diagrams but have never been visible onscreen. Maybe this is a ploy to get us to buy some Revell filler.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see the WARBIRD from STNG shows.
ReplyDeleteSeriously bad. The AMT kit (still available through Round 2) isn't a lot better in many way but at least the basic shape of the hulls is more or less right. It wouldn't be so bad if these were features a skilled modeller could correct, or that someone could make aftermarket parts for. It's a bit tragic really; a missed opportunity - unless they somehow fix these issues before they hit the shelves, but it seems unlikely - it would mean a drastic redesign.
ReplyDeleteThere is a way around the inaccuracies. Get aftermarket decals and name the ship something other than Enterprise.
ReplyDelete;)
This model of the Enterprise appears to be more the shape of the 3 foot model created for the series rather than the 11 foot model. Even then I couldn't explain what the hell is going on with the deflector area its just not right at all.
ReplyDeleteY'all missed the major point of price, while kvetching about the minor point of model details... :)
ReplyDeleteThe new Enterprise -while lacking in specific details- is superior to the old AMT/Ertl kit, and it doubtlessly easier to build.
Thing is, this sucker is $70 MSRP, compared to c. $90-$100 for the 1/350 kit. Drop the price down to $40/$50 and it might create more competition.